Wireless sprinkler control

• US 7,789,321 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIGITAL SUN, INC.
• Original Assignee: DIGITAL SUN, INC.
• Inventors: Hitt, Dale K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US11/220,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239 68- 70, 239/436, 239/DIG.15, 239/562, 239/551, 239200-207, 137/78.3, 137/80, 700/284
• US Class Current: 239/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method to control the flow duration and the flow rate of each individual sprinkler head wirelessly in each zone of an automatic sprinkler system. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, preferably wireless, to control the sprinkler heads, either directly or through a controller. The system enables precise control over irrigation times for the areas covered by each sprinkler head. The system also enables each sprinkler head to control its on/off and duration decisions based on receiving data from a sensor within an irrigation zone of an automatic sprinkler system.

Claims

1. An automatic sprinkler system for providing irrigation to a soil area, the system comprising:

a first sprinkler head comprising;

a first sprinkler housing;

a sensor directly connected to said sprinkler housing for sensing a soil condition;

a first valve disposed in said sprinkler housing;

a microchip disposed in said sprinkler housing and in communication with said sensor;

said microchip configured to determine an irrigation duration time based on data from said sensor; and

a first wireless transmitter disposed in said sprinkler housing and in communication with said microchip;

a second sprinkler head comprising;

a second sprinkler housing;

a second valve disposed in said sprinkler housing;

a second wireless transmitter disposed in said sprinkler housing;

wherein the first transmitter can wirelessly transmit coordination commands to said second wireless transmitter of said second sprinkler head to coordinate a watering process.

2. A sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein the soil condition is soil moisture, humidity, sun light, or plant characteristics.

3. A sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein the sensed soil conditions from the sensor is translated into a command to adjust the water flow rate.

4. A sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein the sensed soil conditions from the sensor is translated into a command to adjust the watering time of the first sprinkler head and said second sprinkler head.

5. An automatic sprinkler system for providing irrigation to a soil area, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless sensors for sensing the soil conditions, the plurality of wireless sensors each comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting and receiving data related to the sensed soil conditions; and

,

a sprinkler head comprising a wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted data;

wherein said plurality of wireless sensors are configured to transmit said data to at least one other of said plurality of wireless sensors;

wherein the sprinkler head waters the soil based on receiving the transmitted data.

6. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the soil condition is soil moisture, humidity, sun light, or plant characteristics.

7. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 further comprising a microchip controller to process the data received from the wireless sensor into a sprinkler command to control the sprinkler head.

8. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the at least one other of said plurality of wireless sensors comprises a microchip controller to process the sensed soil conditions into a sprinkler command to control the sprinkler head.

9. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the sprinkler head comprises a microchip controller to process the data received from the at least one other of said plurality of wireless sensors into a sprinkler command to control the sprinkler head.

10. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the water flow of the sprinkler head is adjustable and the sensed soil conditions from the plurality of wireless sensors is translated into a command to adjust the water flow rate.

11. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the sensed soil conditions from the at least one other of said plurality of wireless sensors is translated into a command to adjust the watering time of the sprinkler head.

12. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the sprinkler head comprises a transmitter to transmit a command of running or not running to coordinate with other sprinkler heads.

13. A sprinkler system as in claim 5 wherein the sprinkler head comprises a receiver to receive a command of running or not running from other sprinkler heads to coordinate with other sprinkler heads.

14. An automatic sprinkler system for providing irrigation to a soil area, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless sensors for sensing soil conditions, each of the wireless sensors comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting data related to the sensed soil conditions;

a first wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors for sensing the soil conditions, the first wireless sensor comprising a first wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted data from the plurality of wireless sensors, the first wireless sensor transmitting a combined data of soil conditions from the plurality of wireless sensors and the first wireless sensor;

a sprinkler head comprising a second wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted combined data from the first wireless sensor;

the sprinkler head comprising adjustable water flow controller and on-off controller;

wherein the sprinkler head waters the soil by adjusting the water flow controller and the on-off controller based on the received combination data.

15. A sprinkler System as in claim 14 wherein the soil conditions are soil moisture, humidity, sun light, or plant characteristics.

16. A sprinkler system as in claim 14 further comprising a microchip controller to process the data received from the first wireless sensor into sprinkler commands to control the sprinkler head.

17. A sprinkler system as in claim 14 wherein the sprinkler head comprises a sprinkler transmitter to transmit a command of running or not running to coordinate with other sprinkler heads.

18. A sprinkler system as in claim 17 wherein the other sprinkler heads each comprise a sprinkler receiver to receive commands of running or not running from other sprinkler heads to coordinate with other sprinkler heads.